I sneak brush pen calligraphy into every (dip pen) modern calligraphy workshop that I teach. I do that for a couple of reasons: first of all, brush pens respond beautifully to pressure. If you exert pressure on a downstroke, the brush pen makes a gorgeously thick stroke. Let up on pressure, and the brush pen makes a delicate thin stroke. Learning this principle with a brush pen leads to success with a dip pen, which is also responsive to pressure!Continue reading…

A new version of the Beth Style Premium Calligraphy Worksheet has been in the works since March 28th. On that day, I calligraphed a Beth Style alphabet and some titles to incorporate into the worksheet set, then I posted on Instagram: “I’m not sure when the new worksheet will be finished, but it should be within the next two months.” That time estimate was ambitious, to say the least — you can’t rush doing something right! Today, half a year later, I am incredibly glad to be able to tell you that the new Beth Style Premium Calligraphy Worksheet is available, and it was well worth the wait.Continue reading…

The other day, I was in Whole Foods, which is this sort of hip grocery store chain in the US/Canada and the UK. As I was perusing all the beautiful food labels and the advertising throughout the store, one thing stood out to me in a big way: hand-lettering. Whole Foods is big on ambiance, and a lot of their charm is thanks to hand-lettering!Continue reading…

When I first started making the Learn for a Latté worksheets, I never intended to create calligraphy video courses to accompany them. Not only did I lack the equipment to make videos, but my video editing had not been put to the test since seventh grade (when iMovie was in its infancy and blissfully simple to use). However, as the calligraphy worksheet user base grew, I began to receive regular requests for videos to complement the worksheets. To be honest, it made sense and I could relate … I am a visual learner, and YouTube and Vimeo tutorials have taught me everything from how to use the Adobe Creative Suite to how to line a cake pan with parchment paper. I knew it was time to step up my game, so I tried my hand at creating a video course to accompany the Amy Style calligraphy worksheet a few months ago.Continue reading…

When I released the Amy Style worksheet set, I also made an optional video course to accompany it. The video course was born out of feedback I had received from visual learners. Many of these learners suggested that it would be easier to catch on to the concept/style if I could show them letter formations, how to hold a dip pen, etc. in a video.Continue reading…

Friday’s A Guide to TPK Calligraphy Styles post discussed the TPK calligraphy styles Amy, Flourish Formal, and Kaitlin. Today, I’d like to tell you about the other two calligraphy styles in the Learn for a Latté series, Beth and Janet. I’ll also talk about Hand-Lettering for a Latté, which, while not technically a calligraphy style, is a fun hand-lettering inspiration resource!Continue reading…

First-time visitors to this website often email me asking for a side-by-side comparison of the printable Learn Calligraphy for a Latté styles. Amazingly, I never have created an official comparison … until today. This post should benefit past, present, and future worksheet users; and help you to decide which calligraphy styles fit you — and your project — best. I was initially going to include all the LCfaL styles in this post, but when it began to turn into a veritable novel, I decided to split it into two parts. So, look for the second half (Janet, Beth, Hand-Lettering) in the next blog post!Continue reading…

It’s hard not to love brush pen calligraphy because of its efficiency! For example, the other day, I was putting together a little mail art packet. I knew I wanted to enclose a greeting card in the package, but time wasn’t on my side: the mailman was going to be here any minute, so I didn’t have time for ink to dry. Frantically, I looked around, wondering how I was going to write beautifully but quickly. The answer came to me after a rummaging session through my desk: brush pen calligraphy. I quickly calligraphed “enjoy” on the card, put the card in the envelope, and placed the envelope outside just in time for the mailman to pick it up.Continue reading…

A lot goes into making a Learn Calligraphy for a Latté set; first, what I call the “Getting Back in Touch with Popular Culture While Doing Some Serious Calligraphing” phase occurs. In this phase, I create all the letterforms and calligraphy needed for the set. Generally, this takes enough time that I am able to watch an entire Netflix or HBO series. {For this set, it was Girls.}Continue reading…